Ford Ranger trucks recalled due to air bags

Kentucky truck owners may be interested to learn that Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have declared 2006 Ford Ranger trucks unsafe to drive. Tests have determined that the trucks have defective Takata air bag inflators that pose an “immediate risk” to drivers and passengers.

In January, a West Virginia man was killed when the air bag in his Ford Ranger exploded. Ford then studied the air bags in 2006 Ranger trucks and found that they have a higher risk of rupturing than air bags in other model years. According to the company and the NHTSA, the vehicles are not safe to drive. As a result, Ford dealers will arrange to have them towed to a service center to have the airbag inflators replaced. The recall involves 33,428 Ranger trucks built between Aug. 5 and Dec. 15, 2005. It also includes 2006 Mazda B-series trucks, which were built by Ford.

Nearly 70 million Takata air bag inflators have been recalled throughout the United States. The air bags inflate by using ammonium nitrate to trigger a tiny explosion. However, the chemical can deteriorate over time and become volatile, causing it to blow apart a metal canister within the air bag and send shrapnel flying into the vehicle’s passenger cabin. The airbags have been linked to the deaths of at least 22 people worldwide. More than 180 people have suffered injuries.

Individuals who have been injured by a defective auto part have the right to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. Other parties that could be held financially responsible might be the distributor and retailer. An attorney could be helpful in identifying the potential defendants.

Source: CNBC, “Air bag danger: Ford adds 33,000 Rangers to do-not-drive list“, Feb. 12, 2018